Friday, September 9, 2011
Bigger a sympathetic character?
Although suppressed and limited by his color, Bigger, doesn't seem to give himself a lot of room for us to be able to sympathize with him. Marked with a great intelligence, Bigger could have, with the right upbringing been the hero of the story. Yet, his need for control and web of outrageous lies in my eyes suppress any good there is in him. There are instances in the story, where guilt does consume him but for the most part, he seem to gloat and take pride in his murder. Do you sympathize with Bigger, although he is a murder? Or do you see him as a broken tyrant? Neither?
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I sypathize with Bigger on some level, at least in the beginning. Right away Bigger is faced--with what I assume a daily routine of nagging from his family. The constant pressure of trying to prove himself. I think we've all been in that situation in some way--maybe not as consistant. With that being said, my sympathy ran it's course between the killing of the rat & Biggers' thoughts on his role in his family. Bigger at this point may very well be a lost cause. There's no real sympathy to be had for the rationale of a killer.
ReplyDeleteThese questions always come to mind..."Should we sympathize with a murderer? Should we punish his actions? How do we punish with an act of justice?" ETC. They (murderers) appear to be driven by different ideals that seem justice to them. Why should human society not sympathize with them? Sure, punishment should be crucial, but shouldn't their thoughts be at least considered? Take Ted Bundy, for example. He is a known serial killer/rapist who had the capacity to go to the University of Washington, yet always had trouble with relationships. Within a matter of years, he became what many people fear. And if you read some of his quotes like:
ReplyDelete"There lots of other kids playing in streets around this country today who are going to be dead tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day and month, because other young people are reading the kinds of things and seeing the kinds of things that are available in the media today."
...Different ideals come into play.
P.S. Sorry, I was ranting...but these are my thoughts on the matter. Let me know what you think.
I'm glad you mentioned that Aida. The mindset of a murderer. What goes into, and comes out of someone who is internally scarred. The mindset of someone like that can be sympathized; because the person didn't begin like that. In the words of Paine, "it's not innate".For instance, with Bigger, we can inference he's so destructive and angry for soceity's way of making certain groups of people feel inferior to the rest of the people who are deemed "normal". In doing so, naturally that has to mess with your mind--you end up doing things you wouldn't do. It just goes downhill after the first time; when you know you're capable of doing something that almost erases the feelings of inferiority& uselessness.
ReplyDeleteI do not sympathize with Bigger on any level. The simple fact that he did not have the ideal up bringing does not justify his actions. Personally, i feel he had a choice to better him self despite his circumstances. However, he chose to continue the cycle. Meaning that it was his fault his "opresive" past could have just made him a stronger person rather than a murderer.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that there are somethings that do make me sympathize with Bigger. Like his crushed hopes, and limited "wiggle" room both in his house and amongst white society. At heart Bigger is a dreamer tended to think with the cup half-empty its not what he would like to do but thats how he was indirectly taught to be. Moreover, Bigger's living conditions serve as a symbolic refernce to his ability to move about in the world. He lives in a tiny, one-roomed apartment with his mom and two siblings without a male figure to guide him. Meaning that Bigger was left to his own tactics to survive. It may not be the best choice but it's all he knows. Having said that, however, I also believe that Bigger is conscience enough of his actions to know when something is wrong and right, therfore, I cannot excuse him for his criminal actions. Now you tell me, is bigger a cycle of white society alone or does the fact that the black communbity accepts the oppressive state so "well" that lead Bigger to react the way he did with the murder of Mary Dalton?
ReplyDelete